Abstract

This paper examines, from the fishery perspective of a developing country, the current debate on the role of fisheries subsidies in the context of the negotiations relating to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade GATT) and the World Trade Organization (WTO). While providing a background on fish production and trade in developing countries, it sketches the history of the role of the State and subsidies in the fisheries of the now-developed fish economies of the world.It goes on to analyze the manner in which fishery issues and the fisheries subsidies debate have been carried out in the GATT and WTO negotiations, leading up to the Doha Ministerial Declaration, which is the basis for a more structured negotiations on subsidies. Drawing on the analysis, the paper envisions some of the development priorities that developing countries must pursue, and the nature of support they need to achieve them. Finally, it suggests what ought to be done by developing countries in the current negotiations on fisheries subsidies. (88pp.)

This paper was originally prepared in November 2005 for the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) Geneva. Copyright remains with ICTSD. The usual disclaimers apply.
The opinions and positions expressed in this publication are those of the authors concerned and do not necessarily represent the official views of ICSF or ICTSD.